Filtering arrangement for smoking articles



Feb. 3, 1970 J. A. MASCARO 3,

FILTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR SMOKING ARTICLES Filed April 30. 1969 TERRY 6107A /v VEN TOR JOHN A. MASCARO B) I FEH' 5 United States Patent 3,492,998 FILTERING ARRANGEMENT FOR SMOKING ARTICLES John A. Mascaro, 1805 NW. 189th Terrace, Miami, Fla. 33054 Filed Apr. 30, 1969, Ser. No. 820,431 Int. Cl. A2411 1/04; A24f 7/04, 13/06 US. Cl. 13110.5 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tobacco filter, including a pair of spaced perforated discs having a series of terry cloth discs closely positioned in loose abutting relationship therebetween. A tubular mouthpiece encircles all the discs, and is adapted for attachment to a cigarette or cigar or for placement in a cavity of a cigarette or cigar holder, or a pipe stern.

Summary of the invention A pair of spaced dies or partitions, preferably of nonabsorbent material, each containing an axially disposed relatively small in diameter opening therethrough and four similar openings spaced radially therefrom and 90 apart from each other, adjacent the periphery of the disc, and a series of discs of terry cloth material between said non-absorbent discs and a jacket around all of said discs.

Brief description of drawing Detailed description In general, the present filter is constructed of both non-porous and very absorbent material to absorb and retain substantially all the tars, nicotine and other harmful substances as may be present in tobacco smoke between the non-porous material, while retaining the aroma and taste pleasing to the smoker.

The filter cartridge of the present invention as especially shown in FIG. 2 comprises a cylindrical tube, sleeve or outer cover 10 formed of paper, cork or a plastic material such as polyethylene which is tasteless. I prefer the tube 10 to have a length dimension of substantially 1% inches with a wall thickness of substantially 0.010 inch, and a diameter preferably 7 inch, plus or minus, depending upon the diameter of the cigarette, whereby one end may be secured to a cigarette in the usual manner.

If the cigarette manufacturer prefers a mouthpiece to be a hollow cylinder of cork or paper (see FIG. 4), then the tube 10 may be eliminated, and these cylinders 18 may be substituted for the cylinder 10. Thus, wherever the tube 10 is hereafter mentioned, it should be construed to include the paper or cork cylinder.

The discs 12 and 13 are preferably made of polyethylene plastic material, and each of a length of substantially inch and of a diameter of substantially 05 inch, plus or minus, as aforesaid. That is, the outside diameter of discs 12 and 13 are slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the cylindrical tube 10, whereby the discs 12 and 13 may be force fitted and retained in spaced position as shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the discs 12 and 13 are provided with five longitudinal smoke passages, that is, apertures or bores 14, extending therethrough. One aperture 14 in each disc 12 and 13 is positioned axially. The other four apertures 14 in each disc 12 are radially positioned adjacent the periphery and each equispaced substantially apart from each other. I preferably require each of such apertures to be substantially of a diameter size of 0.0550 inch. These can be made with a number 54 twist drill. By empoying five apertures 14 of the size preferably desired, as explained, I have found that the smoke from the burning cigarette draws best.

The filtering material is a plurality of terry cloth discs 16 all cut to substantially the same diameter as the discs 12, or the inside diameter of the tube 10. The preferred pile of terry cloth is approximately .093 inch, but any cloth in the terry cloth family can be used.

Textile manufacturers sell terry cloth by weight and there are two types, light and heavy. My laboratory experiments disclosed the heavy cloth to be the best and this is my preference. Terry cloth of cotton is well known for its absorbent qualities, since the loops on both sides are uncut.

The terry cloth discs 16 are placed on edge and placed one against the other in loosely packing force allowing minute air space between each one. I prefer to employ ten terry cloth discs between each of the discs 12 and 13.

When completely assembled in the tube 10, I prefer the disc 13 to be recessed from the front end of the tube 10 approximately A inch for ready telescoping attachment to the end of the cigarette in the usual and customy manner.

Four cigarettes containing the filter hereinabove described were tested by an analytical laboratory on Dec. 17, 1968. Using standard apparatus, the cigarettes were smoked to edge of filter (about 55 millimeters). The result disclosed that in each cigarette, the total particular matter was 5.0 milligrams; moisture in smoke 0.20 milli gram; 0.27 milligram of nicotine in the smoke; and tars in smoke 4.5.

It should now be obvious that the diameter of the filter unit may be changed slightly to fit all sizes of cigarettes and cigars, and may be employed in pipes, and cigar and cigarette holders. Also, the tube 10 of polyethylene may be sized to be placed interiorly of a cylindrical cork or paper mouthpiece (see FIG. 5) and be within the scope of this invention as shown in the drawing.

I claim:

1. A filter for smoking articles having a tobacco filling comprising a cylindrical hollow tube, a pair of spaced non-porous discs positioned in said tube having at least one smoke passage in each of them, and a series of discs of terry cloth material positioned in a loosely abutting relationship in said tube between said non-porous discs.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the nonporous discs are each provided with smoke passages comprising an axial bore and four bores adjacent the periphery of said disc, said four bores being equally spaced from each other.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein each of the smoke passages has a diameter of 0.0550 inch.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the terry cloth discs are at least ten in number and each of a diameter at least as great as the inner diameter of the hollow tube.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein the tube is formed of polyethylene plastic.

6. The device according to claim 4 wherein the tube is formed of heavy paper.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the tube is formed of cork-like material.

8. A filter for smoking articles having a tobacco filling comprising a hollow polyethylene tube having an inside diameter whereby one end may be telescopingly secured to one end of said smoking article, a pair of spaced polyethylene discs mounted in said tube, a series of terry cloth discs loosely filling the space between said discs, the diameter of each of said terry cloth discs being at least equal to the inside diameter of said tube, and each of 10 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,983,926 12/ 1934 Zirmer. 2,126,422 8/ 193 8 Tarrant 131261 X 2,815,760 12/1957 Schreus et al. 2,847,086 8/ 1958 Muller 131-261 X 3,313,309 4/ 1967 Wang l3110.7 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 25,495 12/1883 Germany.

6,500,757 7/ 1965 Netherlands.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner 15 JAMES H. CZERWONKY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 131-401, 207, 261 

